Kansas City International Airport hosted many heart-warming family moments on Wednesday, as millions of people around the country traveled for Thanksgiving.
Overland Park resident Ellen Trost, her husband, and her daughter waited for her son, Ian, who was returning home after his first semester at Michigan State as a freshman.
As part of a family tradition, the three waited in Terminal C with a giant sign of Ian's face to help welcome him back.
"We always like to be a little light hearted and a little goofy," Ellen said. "Keep the kids off kilter a little bit."
The family welcomed Ian back with a big hug once he saw them outside his gate.
"I walked out and it was funny to see my head just being bopped up and down," Ian explained.
A few gates down, Jim Ripley waited for his daughter, Claire, to arrive from Orlando.
"I've been here for an hour just to make sure I got a place to park and see her," he explained.
This Thanksgiving marks the last time for Jim to see his daughter before she leaves to spend a year working over in Japan.
After a joyous hug on Wednesday, the two were excited to spend a few days together.
"She's a big 'Daddy's girl' and she likes for her mom to baby her," Ripley said. "We're going to try and spoil her tonight."
Near the end of Terminal C, the Barnhard family waited with signs and American flags.
Family greets son/dad after 9 month deployment. He's back home. #Thanksgiving @KCIAirport pic.twitter.com/buRCKBUFLq
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) November 23, 2016
Joyce Barnhard, along with her husband and three grandchildren, waited for her son to arrive back home after a nine-month deployment with the military.
"We're very excited. The boys don't know the surprise coming in," Barnhard said. "As a mom, to have your kid home from a deployment, there's nothing like it."
As veteran Matt Barnhard walked out to the terminal to his family's waiting arms, many onlookers took in the moment.
A family was back together again for Thanksgiving.
"There's nothing like it," Barnhard explained. "This is a Thanksgiving that we will remember forever and ever."
In total, AAA estimates 27 million people will be flying to for the Thanksgiving holiday this year.
Plenty more family exchanges are expected over the next few days at KCI Airport.
Airport staff expect Sunday to be the busiest day for travel after the holiday.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
